I'm getting tired of coming to A/N when so many of the responses to posts are not real responses, but simply bashing the poster for not copy/pasting the text, so there's the damned text. People make mistakes, this wasn't even written by him.

As for the article, I hope they do pull more religious shows. It's a government funded program that should not be pushing the business of the church (any church). They want religion on tv, the BBC should start programs about the corruption in all religions, the slaughter, torment and pain they have caused and talk about the reasons people are leaving by interviewing the 45% who have left the church.

Church warns BBC not to cut religion
The Church of England has urged the BBC not to cut any more religious programmes, warning that the Corporation is in danger of “losing sight of its essence”.

It said reducing the number of hours dedicated to faith could lead to the “serious deterioration” of the BBC’s reputation for providing quality television.

The church called for a regular slot about religion on BBC Radio 1 to appeal to a younger audience.

Secular groups rejected the proposals, arguing that too much air time was allocated to religion.

The church’s intervention came as part of the BBC's consultation over its future as the Corporation. It has announced significant cuts and is considering where the axe should fall.

In its submissions, the Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester, said quality was fundamental to the BBC’s Charter.

“The Church of England is particularly concerned with ensuring that appropriate resources are allocated toward ensuring high-quality provision of contents that reflects and explores religion.

“We are concerned that religious broadcasting is one such area where output could not sustain further cuts without serious deterioration of the BBC’s proud record of providing engaging content.

“We emphasise the point that religion is just too present in the ‘public ether’ that the BBC seeks to reflect for it to be sidelined.”

The bishop said by making changes the BBC must make sure it does not “lose sight of its essence – the DNA that makes it an enduring part of national culture”.

Recommending that journalists study religious affairs, he said it was vital that the BBC was able to provide expert analysis in order to put stories in context.

“We suggest, for instance, that more resources should be devoted to extending the College of Journalism activity for BBC staff, which we believe should include religion as a compulsory module.”

The National Secular Society rejected the suggestions and highlighted a recent Ofcom survey which showed only nine per cent of people thought there should be more religion on television.

The BBC said it could not comment directly but a spokeswoman added: “The Trust welcomes any contribution to the ongoing consultation.”

The Corporation’s charter recommends that it produces 110 hours of religious broadcasting a year.

Aaqil Ahmed, head of religion and ethics, has announced that 164 hours are being produced this year.

The BBC is screening The Nativity this Christmas, written by Tony Jordan – writer of Life on Mars – and starring Peter Capaldi, star of the political satire The Thick of It.

The recent submissions from the bishop are not the first to raise the issue of religion and broadcasting.

In February, the Church of England expressed “deep concern” about religious broadcasting on television while the BBC's coverage was described as “not good enough”.

Nigel Holmes, a lay member of synod from Carlisle, said that while BBC radio stations still valued spiritual subjects, "in television, lack of innovation combined with marginalised scheduling would appear to suggest that they have largely shunned them. That, frankly, is not good enough."

Mr Holmes, a former BBC radio producer, said over the past decade, ITV had "virtually withdrawn" from religion, while broadcast worship was "seldom" shown on the BBC.

Well I'll tell ya, from my perspective ENGLAND has "lost sight of its essence." As far as I'm concerned England is a pathetic remnent of its former self. At one time England controlled 1/4 of the land surface of this planet, and today they've shriviled up into a country of weak kneed whiners. They have actually allowed SHARIA COURTS to gain a foothold!!
Every time some Iman bellows they all cower and cringe in fear of "offending" somebody's beliefs. England makes me want to puke.